Method of and apparatus for converting liquid hydrocarbons into gas or vapor.



' E. B. BENHAM.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING LIQUID HYDBOUAB BONS INTO GAS 0R VAPOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10,1908.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEY E. B. BENHAM. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING LIQUID HYDROUARBONS INTO GAS 0R VAPOR.

APPLIOATION TILED JULY 10,1908.

Patented May 11, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- m M V: 6 8 .a M 5 w WITNESSES ATTORNEY E. B. BENHAM.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING LIQUID HYDROGARBONS INTO GAS 0R VAPOR.

' APPLIOATION FILED JULY 10,1908.

920,903. Patented May 11, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

.WITNE88E8 INVENTOR W [/j'ab BBen/mm momvsr E. B. BENHAM. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING LIQUID HYDROUARBONS INTO GAS 0R VAPOR. APPLIUATION FILED- JULY 10,1908.

920,903. v N Patented May 11, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

In ventor UNITE, STATES PATENT oFEIoE.

ELIJAH B BENHAM, OF NEW LONDON. CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO HYDROCARBON coN VERTER COMPANY, or NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION or DELAWARE.

METHOD or AND APPARATUS Eon CONVERTING LIQUIZD HYDROOARBONS m'ro GAS on vnron. I

Specification 01' Letters Patent.

Patented May 1 1, 1909'.

Application filed July 10, 1908. Serial Ito. 442,867.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIJAH B. BENHAM,

a citizen of the United States, residing at New London, in the county of New London and Stateof Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Converting Liquid Hydrocarbons into Gas or-Vapor, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to a method of and apparatus for converting li uid hydrocarbons, and particularly hy rocarbon oils such as kerosene and heavier oils, crude or refined, into a gas or vapor; and comprises passing such hydrocarbons through the pores of heated porous material such as hereinafter described, also an apparatus comprising a porous body adapted to have such oils, or their vapors, passed through'its pores, combined with means for so heatin such porous body and for passing l'qui hydrocarbons or their vapors through its pores. Among the heavy oilswhich may be converted into a gas or vapor by the method, and in the apparatus, herein de scribed, are crude oil, such as is obtainable from the Pennsylvania, Texas, California, Caspian, and other well-known oil fields, fuel oil distillate, and tar oil. Ap-

paratus such as has been known and used heretofore for converting such heavy oils into a gas or vapor has been'bulky, complicated, expensive, and has required skilful operation. Moreover, in making gas from such oils by the methods heretofore known and used, there has been considerable deposition of carbon and carbonaceous compounds, such for example as tar. which are highly objectionable, particularly when it is desired to use the gas without extensive washing and when it is desired to have the apparatus relatively simple and compact. I have found that when these heavy oils, or their vapors, are passed throu h the pores of heated porous material suc as hereinafter described, they are converted into aing one of extreme simplicity, so far as the operations required, and th ap aratus be ing of extreme simplicity and ing practically automatic in its operation, requiring a minimum of attention. Moreover, both process and apparatus lend themselves well to small-scalework', for example, to the making of gas for individual small-size gas engines, each such engine having its own separate gas-making apparatus, although the process and apparatus are also suited to largescale. work.- Among the materials which may be used for converting such hydrocarbons'into vapors or gases, according to my process, are unglazed porcelain, pottery, and porous metal bodies.

In 'the accompanying drawings '1 illustrate certain of the many forms of apparatus which may be devised to operate according to my invention.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is an'elevation, more or less diagrammatic in its nature, of a gas engine and of one form of my imp'roveol oil gasifying apparatus applied thereto; Fig. 2 showsa central vertical section of such oil-gasifying apparatus and of a portion'of the cylinder of a gas engine adj acent thereto; 3 shows, on a somewhat larger scale, a detail sectionof the porous plate and containing plates of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 shows a detail elevation ofone of said containing plates, and shows that face of such plate which, in use, is against the face of the porous plate; Fig. 5 shows a detail perspective view of the porous plate; and Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the application of the apparatus to :1V furnace, such for example, as a boiler furnace. Fig. 7 shows the oil-gasifying apparatus of Figs. 1 and Qadapted for use in connection with any convenient source of supply of heated gas.

In said drawings, 1 designates a ,porous disk or plate, which may be constructed of any suitable material, but in my opinion is preferably constructed of porcelain or earthenware, and 2 and 3 designate respectively containing plates secured together and between which said plate 1 is located. These plates are commonly made of metal, such as iron, brass, copper, etc., but may be made of any suitable material. As shown particw. .larlyin Fig. 4, the faces of these plates 2 in et connection 6, communicating with one of the grooves of said plate 2, as for example, the outer groove (i an outlet connection 8 being also rovided which communicates with one of die grooves of the plate 3, for example, the outer groove of such plate,

The structure 123, is inclosed Within a. chamber 23 provided with means for circulating heated gases around said structure 12 3, for the purpose of heating the same. In the particular arrangement shown, these heating gases are the exhaust gases of a as engine 18, chamber, 23 bein 'provlded with a central connection 19 a apted for connection to the exhaust pipe 20 of said gas engine, the exhaust gases passing directly from the exhaust port 24 of such engine into the interior of chamber 23 and around structure 123, so heating the same. I

do not restrict myself, however, to the heating of the porous medium by the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, but may heat such medium by other means, one instance of which is illustrated in Fig. 6; nor do I claim herein the heating of the porous medium by the exhaust gases of a gas engine, as this is'claimed in a separate application filed Nov. 23, 1908, Serial No. 464,138.

The structure 123, is supported wit-hin chamber 23 by means of a flange with which plate 2 is provided, which flange is interposed between the two sections of chamber 23 where said sections meet and are bolted together; and in this flange are openings 22, permitting free circulation of gases to the rear side of the structure 123. The exhaust gases are led from chamber 2? by a pipe 25 and to conduct these gases to such pipe said chamber is provided with an annular passage guarded by a deflecting flange- 21 extending nearly to the outside of the chamber, so that the gases may not short.- circuit.

In the carrying out of my process by apparatus such as shown in Fig. 2, hydrocar- )OD, usually in liquid form, is delivered under slight pressurethrough pipe 6 to the grooves of plate 2 (structure 123 being heated as above described) ,and these grooves distribute the hydrocarbon over the surface of the plate 1, the hydrocarbon passing through the pores of said plate and being collected on the other side of such plate in the grooves of plate 3, and in its'passage through the pores of plate 1 being converted into a gas or vapor, which gas or vapor is carried off by pipe .8.

The temperature of the porous plate may vary greatly, according to the character of oil, according to the character of gas or vapor desired, and according to the heat available: also the plate need not be heated so high for a relatively thin oil, such as kerosene, as for the heavier hydrocarbon oils. I consider a temperature of at least 300 Fahrenheit necessary for treating the hydrocarbon oils and the temperature may range from that upward, a considerably higher temperature than 300 bein desirable. The temperature 1 of the ex must of a gas engine is known to range ordinarily from about 600 Fahrenheit to about 900 Fahrenheit, so that in the arrangement shown in Fi 1 and 2 the porous plate will Ol'dllltllfi? be heated to between these temperatures, and I have found that a porous plate heated in the manner illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, acts effectively to convert very heavy and complex hydrocarbon oils, such for example, as ordinary crude oil, distillate and fuel oil, into a gas or vapor which can be used very success ully in a gas engine, just as ordinary illuminating gas is used in such engines, and without .the troubles heretofore commonly experienced in the use of kerosene and heavier oils in gas en ines. The porous material will not or inarily be heated above a temperature corresponding to a bright red heat of iron, as it is well known that hydrocarbons are decomposed, with deposition of carbon, when heated much above that temperature.

It is well known that the use of kerosene and heavier oils as fuel in internal combustion engines, has heretofore commonly been attended with very serious difliculties and objections. Kerosene, when injected into a heated engine cylinder, can usually be ignited by an electric spark, but the heavier oils as a rule require ignition by contact with a hot tube or plate or the like. But

kerosene when used commonly causes more or less deposition of carbon or carbonaceous compounds in the cylinder, and a similar ditiioulty is commonly experienced to a far greater extent in the use of oils heavier than kerosene in internal combustion engines, it being usually necessary to open and thoroughly clean the cylinders or vaporizing chambers of such engines, very frequently. As is well known, when ignition is produced by a hot tube or plate, or by compression to the temperature of automatic ignition, as is sometimes done, the point of ignition is apt to-be more or less variable and moreover is not as a rule that at which the engine would work best or with the highest efiiciency. Similar objections have been encountered in the use of kerosene and heavier oils in burners, the burners tending usually to clog up with a deposit of carbon or carbonaceous materials, due toso-called cracking of the oil. The exhaust of gas engines, operating on kerosene and heavier oils, is also commonly very offensive. These objections to the use of kerosene and heavier oils in intornul combustion engines and in burners, are obviated by the method and apparatus hereindescribed, the said method resulting in the production of a gas or vapor which may be used inburners and. in internal combustion engines, just as ordinary illuminating gas is used, and with all the advantages known to accompany the use of illuminating.

gas, instead of liquid fuel, in gas engines. a

The action of the porous plate is doubtless ditlerent according to the temperature of said plate. At the lower temperature it probably acts to volatilize the oil, at the same time holding back impurities; but the vapor so produced is far more permanent than that produced by merely spraying or atomizing oil into a current of air or steam, the oil being probably in an infinitely tiner de ree of subdivision, due to the extremely minute pores of the porous material, and to the extremely uniform heating'of all portions of the oil passing through these pores.

The oil may pass through the porous plate either as a liquid or may be converted into \':l)01' upon contactwith the porous plate am pass throughthe pores thereof as a vapor. But at higher temperatures the porous plate effects decomposition of the complex molecules of the oil, producing simpler compounds some of which at least are permanent or fixed.gases. I have found that the vaporization and decomposition of the oil, when an earthenware or porcelain plate is used, is accomplished without the formation of any appreciable deposition of carbon or carbonaceous compounds in the chamber- 23, passages (S, and in the pores of the porous plate 1, and that the pores of said plate do not become filled up even after long use.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 I have illustrated an oil tank 15 from which the oil is drawn, through a pipe 28,-,by-means of a pump 27, and thence delivered under slight pressure to the pipe 6; and Ihave shown a trap 16 into which the gas or vapor is de livered from pipe 8, said trap being usually provided with a screen, sieve, or other suit able filtering device, 13 (Fig. 2), to hold back any liquid which may be carried by or condensed from the gas or vapor, such liquid being returned by the pipe 14 to the tank 15; the gas or vapor passing from trap 16 through pipe 17 to the inlet port of the engine 18.

In some cases it is thought desirable to provide means for feeding a greater amount of oil through the apparatus than can be passed through the poresof plate 1, and in such case a small opening 7 isprovided in the porous plate 1, so permitting a portion of the oil. to pass in liquid form from the grooves of plate 2 to the grooves of plate 3. This is permissible, and not inconsistcut with the production of a gas or vapor the required temperature.

well adapted for use ininternal combustion engines, burners, etc., because the heat of plate 3 is such, ordinarily, that. the oil so passing will be volatilized before it escapes into pipe 8. But where this opening? is provided, I customarily provrd also a needle valve 12 by which the ,flow through such opening may be regulated as desired, or shut off altogether.

The apparatus used for carrying out my method above described, may, of course, be made in numerous different forms, and may be arranged to be heated in various different ways. The gas or vapor produced may also be used for many purposes other than that. of operating a gas engine. In

the construction shown in Fig. 6 I have shown a gas making device 29 (which may be, supposed to be substantially identical with the structure 123 shown in Fig. 2,) mounted upon the bridge wall 30 of a boiler furnace, in such manner that the flame and products of combustion of such furnace in passing over the bridge wall will heat the said gas making apparatus, and I have shown oil supplied to this gas making apparatus from a tank 36 by means of pipes 38 and 39 and a pump 37, and have indicated a. pipe 31 for drawing off the gas and passing it to a trap 32 corresponding substantially to the trap 16 shown in Fig. 2, the gas being led from said trap through a pipe 33 to burners 34; the drip, if any, passing out through the drippipe 3,5. This is obviously of my. invention. The apparatus may of course be arranged to be heated by waste gas from any convenient source capable of supplying-such gas at the temperature, 300 F. or over, required for eifective asifieation. In Fig, 7 Ihave shown a gasiFying' apparatus similar to that shown in Fig. 2, and to which similar reference numerals have been applied, the inlet 19 for heating gas having connected to it a pipe 40 through which heated gas from any convenient source, may be conveyed to the interior of the chamber 23; and such pipe may therefore be considered as constituting, diagrammatically, a source of supply of heated gas of temperature suitable to heat the porous plate 1 to I do not consider it necessary to describe the detail construction of the gasifying apparatus shown in Fig. 7 as such construction has already been described with reference to Figs 1 and 2. I have shown the hydrocarbon gas dis charge pipe 8 connected to a. suitable burner 34. I may also pass other hydrocarbons,

for example, alcohol, through the appavolatile nature of alcohol, and the ready inflammability of its vapor.

What I claim is 1. The hereindescribed method of converting hydrocarbons into gas or vapor, which comprises passing such hydrocarbons through the pores of heated porous material having a temperature of at least approximately 300 degrees Fahrenheit and not exceeding a bright red heat, and conducting the gas or vapor formed, without substantial condensation, to point of combustion.

2. The hereindescribed method of converting hydrocarbons into gas or vapor, which comprises passing such hydrocarbons through the pores of heated porous silicious material having a temperature of at least' approximately 300 degrees Fahrenheit and not exceeding a bright red heat, and conducting the 'gas'or vapor formed, without substantialcondensation, to a pointof combustion.

3. The hereindescribed method ofconverting hydrocarbons into gas or vapor, which comprises passing such hydrocarbons through the pores of heated porous clayey material having a temperature of at least approximately 300 degrees Fahrenheit and not exceeding a bright red heat, and conducting the gas or vapor formed, without substantial condensation, to a point of combustion.

4. The hereindescribed method of converting hydrocarbons into gas or vapor, which comprises passing such hydrocarbons through the pores of a mass of porous burnt clay having a temperature of at least approximately '300 degrees Fahrenheit and not exceeding a bright red heat, and conductingthe gas or vapor formed, without substantial condensation, to a polnt of combustion.

5. The hereindescribed method of converting hydrocarbons into gas or vapor, which comprises spreading such hydrocarbons over the surface of a mass of porous material heated to at least approximately 300 degrees Fahrenheit and not above a bright red heat and causing such hydrocarbons to pass through the pores of such material and conducting the gas or vapor formed, without substantial condensation, to a point of combustion.

6. Apparatus for converting hydrocarbons into gas or vapor, comprising a porous body, means for heating same, adapted to heat it to a temperature of at least approximately 300 degrees Fahrenheit and not above a bright red heat, means for passing hydrocarbon through the pores of saidbody and means for carrying away to a point of combustion the gas or vapor produced.

7 Apparatus for converting hydrocarbons into gas or vapor, comprising a porous silicious body, means for heating same,

adapted to heat same to a temperature not exceeding a bright red heat, means for passing hydrocarbon through its pores, and means for conducting away the' produced to a point of combustlon;

8. Apparatus for converting hydrocarbons into gas or vapor, comprising a solid porous septum, means for heating the same to a temperature exceeding 300 de Fahrenheit, and means for passing hydr0- carbon through its pores.

9. Apparatus for converting hydrocarbons into gas or vapor, comprising a porous clayey body, means for heating same, and means for passing hydrocarbon through its pores.

10. Apparatus for converting hydrocarbons into gas or vapor, comprising a porous body of burnt cla means for heating same, and means for passing hydrocarbon through its pores.

11. Apparatus for converting hydrocarbons into gas or vapor comprising a porous body and inclosin members on opposite sides thereof, there eing between said members and porous body spaces for the passage of hydrocarbon to and from the surfaces of said body.

12. Apparatus for converting hydrocarbons into gas or vapor comprising a porous body and inclosing members on opposite sides thereof, there being between said members and porous body spaces for the passage of hydrocarbon to and from the surfaces of said body, one of said inclosing members having a supply connection and the other a discharge connection.

13. Apparatus for converting hydrocarbon into gas or vapor comprising a porous body and inclosin members on opposite sides thereof, there being between said members and porous body spaces for the assage of hydrocarbon to and from the sur aces of said body, body.

14. Apparatus for converting hydrocarbon into gas or vapor comprising a porous body and inclosing members on opposite sides thereof, there being between said members and porous body spaces for the passage of hydrocarbon to and from the surfaces of said body, and a chamber containing said porous body and inclosing members, and adapted for the circulation of heated gases through it.

15. Apparatus for converting hydrocarbon into gas or vapor comprising a porous plate, and inclosing plates on opposite sides of said porous plate, there bein between said latter. plates and the porous p ate spaces for the passage of hydrocarbon to and from the surfaces of said porous plate.

16. Apparatus for converting hydrocarbon-into gas or vapor comprising a porousplate,-and inclosing plates on opposite sides and means for heating said porous gas or vapor of said porous plate and provided with channels for the flow of hydrocarbon to and from the surfaces of said porous plate. 17. Apparatus for converting hydrocarbon into gas or vapor comprisin a chamber having inlet and outlet connectlons for the passage of heated gases into and out of said chamber, a porous body located within said chamber in position to be heated by said gases, and means for passin hydrocarbon through the pores of said b0 y.

18. Apparatus for converting hydrocarbon into gas or vapor comprismg a chamber having inlet and outlet connections for the passage of heated gases into and outof said chamber, and a structure located within,

said chamber and in the path of said gases and comprising inclosing members having between them a porous member, said structure comprising means for passing hydrocarbon through the ports of said porous member.

19. Apparatus for converting hydrocarbon into gas or vapor comprising a chamber havin a peripheral discharge passa e, a cenporous member, and means for passmg hydrocarbon through the pores of said porous member.

20.-Apparatus for converting hydrocarbon into gas or vapor comprising a porous member, means for passing hydrocarbon therethrough, means for heatmg said porous member, and means for separating liquid from the gas or vapor discharged from said porous member.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELLIAH B. BENHAM.. 

